The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
A HUMANE PROVISION.
ADMIRABLE PRACTICE ON THE HUNT
INGToN RAILROAD SYSTEM.
The Sick and Disabled Employees Afford
ed Medical Attention and Medicine
Free of Charge, Save In the Way Of
q Small Monthly Assessment.


The care and health OF the large num-
Der OF men who are employed by the
thousands on the innumerable railroaid
lines which, with energetic vim, have in
terknit themselves in every section OF the
country, is fast becoming subject OF con-
siderate thought and attention with tho
management OF these great iron thorough
fares. Railroad men might, most probably,
be termed cltlZens IN transit. i'll inc BROAD
est sense OF the term. The systems OF rail-
way, stretching AS liley do in different di-
recuons, anu with their policy OF inter-
change, often, and in tact inonllly, carry
ing men III their service hundreds OF miles
away from their homes, not lor single
trip, but Tor weeks. These corporation en-
ployes are frequently ''s,rdngers in
strange land, without friends, and as
general thing, when mishap over
takes them, without money, and un-
able to provide necoSsaries Tor themselves
In such AN emergency. They may DO
trained men III the service, and 10 be de-
prlyed OF that service il 10 that extent an
injury TO the business OF the road. ii the
emplOye be stricken with an ordinary at
tack OF sickness, and has 10 20 several
hundred miles " reach home, where he
may be confined several weeks or months,
and then, upon recovery. not know
whether lie is 10 resume ms position or
motor is injured in limb or
body by the cars IN the discharge OF his
duty, being disabled Tor months or perma-
nenuy from wOrk-tlcn IL IL question,
how shall these men De provided lor, in
order that they can quickest be restored
TO dutyf There IL another and equally
important question, how TO avoid legal re-
dress for damages, and this IL matter OF
prime import 10 practical men, particularly
those Interested IN great rairUad enter
prises.
The only railway system which has 80
far taken practical acuOn ON the subject is
the Huntington syndicate, which has for
| several years maintained Il hospital IL
Paducah, n.y., Tor the care oil It's suck and
| disabled employees. 10 this hospital nil of
the above class between Louisville and
this city are taken, II they choose to 20
there. While there, bOard and medical at
tention Is free 10 them. This hospital il
sustained, 10 far as the fund gOes, in this
| way: The salary Of each cmpiOyc is rated,
! and from that the receiver IL taxed such "a
! ror instance, m emp.Uye receiving $50
| per month would DC required TO pay 30
| cents each month TO the hospital lund.
The same ratio applies TO all sal
aries above and below that amount.
| this admirable railway system
has local Sturgeon ia ovtry place oi i'm
! pOriancc through which ia road passes.
lao frs.fa 81 tfsff
! this surgeon il 10 BE- called. lie attends
| the patient free Of ciarge. md al ihc mcd-
! icinc hc prcsrribcF " free al.o, during thc
illness, whether the Cmploye wishes 10 be
taken 10 the paducah hospital or not.
There is no other railway conqmuy which
80 humanely provides for Us disabled en-
! ploycs, with the exception al the Gould
| system; but that only has such an arIuugc-
munt for those employees who meet with
| accidents IN its service.
The other railroads coming into Mem
| phis have q local surgeon each. hut only
! Tor eases OF accident, and The instructions,
o. general ;hiEg, nrr thai thy surgeon
I shall only attend The patient while hc il
1 In danger from such accident.
In large city Ike Memphis which Is
rapidly becoming the chief objective prinl
OF oil uilroads in ihc slu,h, Il world not
be amiss Tor the Huntington plan 10 hc
| pu, into practical elect, ia an idca like
I this. Let all of ihp railroad lines centciiug
here create u fund for the erection and
maintenance OF n railway hospital Tor
their employees. The city certainly would
he willing 10 donate them a lot fur such .
! humane purpose. such an institution
would be- but n No accommodation lor their
many faithful employee, aud Il Is easy to
! presume that such y wise provision would
save the corporations from uu.ny pcrplcX-
ing suits NJ law for dauases Sustained by
! those In their service.